General Electric Co. said Feb. 17 it has partnered with energy management and electric vehicle technologies provider Juice Technologies LLC to produce intelligent plug-in electric vehicle charging devices for U.S. and global markets. The chargers will integrate GE's smart meters with Columbus, Ohio-based Juice Technology's Plug Smart engine to help consumers charge their cars during low-demand, lower cost time periods.GE will offer a line of charging products in the United States in the second quarter of 2010, with full-scale production ramping up throughout the year. Global availability will follow. Smart chargers will hasten acceptance of plug-in cars by providing consumers with the low charging rates for their cars, while utilities will be able to better control the demand for electricity and take on the added load of electric vehicles without overtaxing their grids, the company said. Utilities will also realize greater value from their capital equipment during overnight and other low-demand times, when it is substantially less utilized."Plug-in electric vehicles will become the new transportation reality," said Bob Gilligan, vice president-transmission and distribution for GE Energy Services. "These chargers will help consumers use electric cars as cost-effectively as possible, speeding their adoption-lowering our carbon footprint and dependence on foreign oil. Smart chargers will make it easier and more cost effective to power clean, efficient cars with electricity made from clean, domestic sources."